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What Is Acute Mountain
Sickness?

Hikers,
skiers, and adventurers who travel to high altitudes can sometimes develop acute
mountain sickness. Other names for this condition are altitude sickness or high
altitude pulmonary edema. It typically occurs at about 8,000 feet, or 2,400
meters, above sea level. Dizziness, nausea, headaches, and shortness of breath
are a few symptoms of this condition. Most instances of altitude sickness are
mild and heal quickly. In rare cases, altitude sickness can become severe and
cause complications with the lungs or brain.

What Causes Acute Mountain
Sickness?

Higher
altitudes have lower levels of oxygen and decreased air pressure. When you
travel in a plane, drive or hike up a mountain, or go skiing, your body may not
have enough time to adjust. This can result in altitude sickness. Your level of
exertion also plays a role. Pushing yourself to quickly hike up a mountain, for
example, may cause acute mountain sickness.

Who Is at Risk for Acute
Mountain Sickness?

Your risk of
experiencing acute mountain sickness is greater if you live by or near the sea
and are unaccustomed to higher altitudes. Other risk factors include:

quick
movement to high altitudes

physical
exertion while traveling to a higher altitude

traveling
to extreme heights

a
low red blood cell count due to anemia

heart
or lung disease

past
bouts of acute mountain sickness

What Are the Symptoms of
Acute Mountain Sickness?

The symptoms
of altitude sickness generally appear within hours of moving to higher
altitudes. They vary depending on the severity of your condition. If you have a
mild case, you may experience:

dizziness

headache

muscle
aches

insomnia

nausea
and vomiting

irritability

loss
of appetite

swelling
of the hands, feet, and face

rapid
heartbeat

shortness
of breath with physical exertion

Severe cases
of acute mountain sickness can cause more intense symptoms and affect your
heart, lungs, muscles, and nervous system. For example, you may experience
confusion as a result of brain swelling. You may also suffer from shortness of
breath due to fluid in the lungs.

Symptoms of
severe altitude sickness may include:

coughing

chest
congestion

pale
complexion and skin discoloration

inability
to walk or lack of balance

social
withdrawal

Seek medical
attention as soon as possible. The condition is much easier to treat if you
address it before it progresses.

How Is Acute Mountain
Sickness Diagnosed?

Your doctor
will ask you to describe your symptoms, activities, and recent travels. During
the exam, your doctor will most likely use a stethoscope to listen for fluid in
your lungs. To pinpoint the severity of the condition, your doctor may also
order a chest X-ray.

How Is Acute Mountain
Sickness Treated?

Treatment
for acute mountain sickness varies depending on its severity. You might be able
to avoid complications by simply returning to a lower altitude. Hospitalization
is necessary if your doctor determines that you have brain swelling or fluid in
your lungs. You may receive oxygen if you have breathing issues.

Medications

Medications
for altitude sickness include:

acetazolamide
to correct breathing problems

blood
pressure medicine

lung
inhalers

dexamethasone
to decrease brain swelling

aspirin
for headache relief

Other Treatments

Some basic
interventions may be able to treat milder conditions, including:

returning
to a lower altitude

reducing
your activity level

resting
for at least a day before moving to a higher altitude

hydrating
with water

How Can I Prevent Acute
Mountain Sickness?

There are
some important preventive steps you can take to reduce your chances of acute
mountain sickness. Get a physical to make sure you have no serious health
issues. Review the symptoms of mountain sickness so you can recognize and treat
them quickly if they occur. If traveling to extreme altitudes (higher than
10,000 feet, for example), ask your doctor about acetazolamide, a medication
that can ease your body’s adjustment to high altitudes. Taking it the day
before you climb and on the first day or two can lessen your symptoms.

When
climbing to higher altitudes, prevent acute mountain sickness by doing the following:

Climb
gradually, if possible. Instead of moving from 0 to 8,000 feet in one day, rest
for a day after every 2,000 feet.

You should
also avoid climbing to high altitudes if you have certain medical conditions or
restrictions. Having anemia causes a low red blood cell count, which reduces
the amount of oxygen in your blood. Ask your doctor about taking an iron
supplement, and treat the issue before going to high altitudes.

If you have
either heart or lung disease, the combination of high altitudes and low oxygen
can be difficult to endure.

If you take
medications like sleeping pills, narcotic pain relievers, or tranquilizers,
check with your doctor before climbing to high altitudes. These medications can
lower your breathing rate.

You should also avoid climbing to high altitudes if you felt ill in the
past during previous climbs.

What Is the Long-Term Outlook?

Most people
are able to recover from a mild case of acute mountain sickness quickly after
returning to lower altitudes. Symptoms typically subside within hours, but may
last up to two days. However, if your condition is severe and you have little
access to treatment, complications can lead to swelling in the brain and lungs,
resulting in coma or death. It’s essential to plan ahead when traveling to high
altitude locations.